Bengal health varsity V-C shunted out in two days

KOLKATA: An award-winning doctor, who was appointed vice-chancellor of West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) was removed from his post after only two days. Amit Banerjee, a cardio-thoracic surgeon, says he was stunned when he was informed via email that the government had not "accepted his assuming charge as V-C".
"It appeared to me as abnormal. I immediately called up the health secretary who told me that I was being removed due to political compulsions.It was indeed embarrassing for me," Banerjee told TOI on Wednesday evening. He said he has not been formally intimated yet, although it’s 18 days since he was asked to go. "Is this the way to remove a vice-chancellor ?" he asked, anger clear in his voice.
Manimala Das, vice-chancellor of Netaji Subhas Open University, also quit on Wednesday, saying she wanted to go back to teaching. Das has written to the higher education department for a transfer. "She wants to return to her college. The government has accepted her resignation and informed her that she can go back to Lady Brabourne as and when she relinquishes her present post," said an official of the higher education department.
Amit Banerjee, a cardio-thoracic surgeon with Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College and GB Pant Hospital, had assumed office as vice-chancellor of WBUHS on July 1 On July 3, he receives email saying his "assuming charge as V-C has not been accepted" Even 18 days after he was asked to go, he is yet to be formally intimated
Vague reasons were cited for removal, says Banerjee.
On July 3, he received an email which said that as directed by the health secretary, his "assuming charge as V-C has not been accepted" .
The BC Roy awardee was shocked. "Several vague reasons are being cited for my removal . One of the accusations is that I joined late. But I can join a new office only after I am released from one. I was handed my release order on June 30 from Delhi and within 24 hours I had joined office in Kolkata. There was no delay," he says. "I attended office on the second day as well. I held meetings with my colleagues and employees till the evening," said Banerjee.
M N Roy, who was health secretary till July 5, refused to comment on the matter. "I would not want to speak about him since I have now been shifted from the department ," he said.